Republicans need to start practicing what they preach. Republicans tout competition, and the best man winning. But when it comes to assigning committee chairmanships, they take the touchy-feely approach of awarding it to whoever has the most seniority. This sounds a lot like affirmative action to me. It is intellectually lazy and anti-competition. Why should a senator worry about being loyal to his party and his party's ideals, showing up for meetings, voting, or studying the issues if none of this has any impact whatsoever on his chances to chair a committee?
I say reward hard work and dedication instead. It's the Republican way!
John Kyl for Judiciary chairman.
They only started doing that since 1994. It is not like there is some long-standing tradition. They changed the rules then, they can change the rules now. I am sure Democrasts try to put their best fighter in the best position to help their cause. Seniority is a spineless way to select Chairmen.
I don't understand this. While the desire to have everyone be politically correct is obviously strong among some so-called conservatives who want only those who agree with them entirely to have a voice, the self-destructive impulse is harder to understand. Knock Specter off as Chair and you open up a scenario in which moderate Republican Senators walk across the aisle and the Republican majority thins mightily or disappaears. Recall that there are at least 3 other moderate Republicans in addition to Specter who will have no difficulty getting reelected as democrats or Independents. You may thinks this unlikely (I don't) but it is certainly not impossible. Pro-Choice Republican Senators will bridle at the notion that they will be punished for their views by people from states other than their own. So these PC rants make no sense to me unless you want to damage Republican control of the senate.